Henderson has become a firm fans’ favourite and he has lavished praise on the locals, staff and teammates who have made him feel welcome in the historic southern city.

The classy midfielder has even picked up some Italian during his two months in the country, while he is seeking to return the favour by giving Colombian winger Andres Tello - on loan from Juventus - a crash course in English.

He said: “I am trying to learn bits of Italian. All the players have been very helpful if I have any questions or things I don’t understand. I can go to them and they will explain.

"Every single player has welcomed me with open arms and I really can’t speak highly enough of everyone in the city.

“I am close to Djavan Anderson, because he speaks English and I am friends with Libor [Kozak], we come into training together.

"Me and Libor will go for food and coffee and sometimes, after training, I will just put my headphones in and go for a walk, get some fresh air and explore the city.

“The coffee is good - but it’s strange that they are so small!

“I am trying to teach Andres English, so we spend quite a lot of time together. Hopefully I can help him out and his English improves.

“I’ve seen some fans call me Braveheart and that’s nice. It’s obviously a famous story, and every Scottish person knows William Wallace, so hopefully things can keep going well.”

Henderson is thriving under the watchful eye of Italian World Cup winner Fabio Grosso, with Bari currently in fifth spot - a promotion play-off place - and enjoying a five-game unbeaten run, and he reckons his new gaffer is firmly in the mould of former bosses Neil Lennon and Alan Stubbs.

Furthermore, he believes winning promotion with Grosso’s men would top his Scottish Cup triumph at Hibs in 2016.

He said: “I think it would be the pinnacle of my career if we were to go up to Serie A. But I can’t look so far ahead. I’ve only played five matches so I just need to find a level of consistency, play well in every game and repay the manager for the trust he showed in me.

“I knew the manager was a top professional and played at the very highest level and I feel very lucky in my career that I have had three managers who have played at a very good level in football.

"Fabio Grosso is a World Cup winner, Alan Stubbs played for Everton in the Premier League and Neil Lennon represented Celtic in the Champions League.

“I feel fortunate to have those coaches to learn from and the manager here has been brilliant for me. His training, his approach to the matches, has been superb. The way he plays is the way football should be played.”

As well as being dazzled by his new coach, Henderson insists he has found the Italian answer to Scott Brown, in veteran attacker Franco Brienza.

Brienza, 39, is still going strong at the San Nicola after a career that has seen him star in Serie A with the likes of Palermo, Siena and Atalanta, and represent Italy on two occasions - and Henderson insists he is the sort of inspiration that only has one other parallel in his career.

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“Franco is incredible. To see his determination and attitude at 39 years old is amazing. He is an example to me and probably the most professional player that I have ever seen in my career.

“The only player I have ever seen with similar attitude is Scott Brown. He is getting towards the end of his career and getting older but the professionalism and determination he shows in training is incredible.

"Whether it’s training match or Champions League, Scott gives everything. Brienza is the same, and after numerous years in Serie A he is back trying to help the younger players at Bari. He is the perfect inspiration.”